Good Food greenlights Indian cuisine series

Actress, TV chef and food writer Madhur Jaffrey (pictured) will explore the impact of South Asian cuisine on the British diet in a travel series produced by Cactus TV for the UKTV-owned cooking channel.

Acclaimed chef Madhur Jaffrey (pictured) is to star in a travel show for British cooking channel Good Food.

The UKTV-owned cable net has commissioned Cactus TV to produce Madhur Jaffrey’s Curry Nation (working title), a 10 x 30-minute series in which the actress, TV chef and food writer embarks on a personal trip around the United Kingdom to explore the impact South Asian food has had on Britons’ diets since she introduced the cuisine to many in the country three decades ago.

The series, which will premiere in the fourth quarter of 2012, was commissioned by UKTV senior commissioning editor Catherine Catton and ordered by Good Food general manager Clare Laycock.

“In 2012 it’s possible to sample the whole of Indian cuisine without leaving the British Isles and who better to explore this, than Madhur Jaffrey herself?” said Laycock in a statement. “When Cactus TV brought us this idea, we were instantly sold.”

The network’s website, goodfoodchannel.co.uk, will complement the show with bonus footage of Jaffrey cooking her signature dishes, along with the recipes.

Madhur Jaffrey’s Curry Nation will be produced for Good Food by Duncan Barnes and executive produced by Amanda Ross from Cactus TV. Catton and commissioning executive Victoria Barimore will oversee the series on the UKTV side.

Britain’s leading food TV channel, Good Food, has commissioned a major new series from Cactus TV, with a working title of Madhur Jaffrey’s Curry Nation, which will see the legendary cook explore the modern British love affair with Indian cuisine, more than 30 years after she introduced the West to its delights.

The 10 x 30” landmark series, which is due to compliment the channel’s impressive Q4 2012 schedule, has been commissioned by UKTV’s Senior Commissioning Editor, Catherine Catton, and ordered by Good Food General Manager, Clare Laycock.

Curry is the UK’s favourite dish, and Madhur Jaffrey is television’s favourite Indian cook. For generations of food lovers around the world she is the authority on its cuisine. Now she is about to undertake a personal journey around Britain, exploring the spices, flavours and fragrances of her native cuisine and the impact it has had on us as a nation.

From London to Birmingham and Glasgow to Leicester, she will present her unique food map of the UK in her usual eloquent, enthusiastic and passionate style, exploring the breadth of South Asian cuisine that has made its home here.

Madhur Jaffrey first visited Britain as a young woman, at a time when almost no one here cooked, or knew anything about Indian or South Asian food. Now more than30 years later, this is her chance to reflect on how radically the nation has changed its attitudes towards it, and to also look back on her own extraordinary career.

UKTV’s Catherine Catton says: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Cactus TV once more, to work on yet another landmark commission. It’s a real honour for Good Food’s viewers to be able to learn and hear from the original and most popular Indian cook of our time, in what is set to be a unique and amazing journey.”

Clare Laycock from UKTV adds: “In 2012 it’s possible to sample the whole of Indian cuisine without leaving the British Isles and who better to explore this, than Madhur Jaffrey herself? When Cactus TV brought us this idea, we were instantly sold.”

Series Executive Producer, Amanda Ross from Cactus TV adds: “We’re so excited to be making this incredible series with Madhur Jaffrey for Good Food. She is in great form, and her unique passion, enthusiasm and insight will make this series very special for the viewers and production team alike.”

Madhur Jaffrey firmly believes that “Indian food isn’t always complicated to make, and you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen”, and this mantra will underpin this exclusive new series. In each episode, her journey will see her seeking out the many different thriving Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities, and meeting with fellow devotees of their cuisines from all backgrounds and walks of life.

GoodFoodchannel.co.uk will also compliment the material featured in the series, through additional filmed content of Madhur’s British journey of discovery. And, as she meets and cooks alongside real people, she will make dishes from the whole of the Indian continent, showing us her unique interpretation of classic Indian and South Asian dishes.

Each of the exciting new recipes from the series will be featured on the website, helping to enhance the already impressive library of over 16,000 dishes already featured.

In 2012, the Good Food channel and Cactus TV have worked together on the hugely successful 10-part series, The Roux Legacy, and have further cemented their working relationship with The Roux Scholarship, which is due to be shown on the channel in July.

Madhur Jaffrey’s Curry Nation will be Produced for Good Food by Duncan Barnes and Executive Produced by Amanda Ross from Cactus TV and overseen by UKTV’s Senior Commissioning Editor, Catherine Catton and Commissioning Executive, Victoria Barimore.

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About The Author

Senior staff writer Frederick Blichert comes to realscreen with a background as a journalist and freelance film critic. He has previously written for VICE, Paste Magazine, Senses of Cinema, Xtra, Canadian Cinematographer and elsewhere. He holds a Master of Arts in film studies from Carleton University and a Master of Journalism from the University of British Columbia.